Be transported back in time to the Golden Age of a Bar Harbor (without sacrificing modern amenities) at the Van Loan Cottage!  Back in 1936 when Bar Harbor was a thriving artists’ colony, Philadelphia artist Dorothy “Dido” Van Loan and her brother and sister built the Van Loan Cottage as a summer retreat and art studio. It is only five minutes from the main entrance to Acadia National Park and eight minutes from downtown Bar Harbor, but a quiet, nostalgic world away.  Frenchman Bay is visible from the driveway, and the cottage is close enough to enjoy the cool ocean breeze from the screened porch. A few hundred yards down the quiet road there is access to a private rocky beach (a little bit of hike down a path), exclusively for use by the neighborhood association and guests of The Van Loan Cottage! Kayak and hunt for sea glass on your own stretch of shore!  You will not find a property that more fully captures the feeling of costal Maine or the romantic past of Bar Harbor.

After a loving two-year restoration, the property has been upgraded to accommodate vacationer's needs while maintaining its historic charm.  The restored original main cottage has a great “old camp” feel (have you seen the DIY network show?), decorated with local antiques and folk art pieces. It features a large great room with a queen bed and a double bed, which are also daybeds for family seating and lounging during the day. An atmospheric screen porch has a comfortable wicker couch and two oversize wicker chairs. Dorothy’s former loft studio serves as a fun play area for the kids and a gallery for several of her old works (some from her private collection, never before seen in public!) The restored kitchen is fully functional, and there is a full bath with a claw foot tub/shower combo.  The former garage—hand-built by brother Seth from salvaged materials—has been converted into a rustic/luxe master suite! The suite features a king bed, a comfortable sitting area with wicker rocker and gas stove, and a small dining table for two. The spacious master bath has a large hand-built vanity, a claw foot tub/shower combo, and ample storage space. A combo washer/dryer unit, Keurig coffee maker, and mini-fridge make the master suite a self-contained retreat for a couple (or Mom and Dad). Just outside the back door, a romantic outdoor sitting area under a sweet pergola is a great place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee or an evening glass of wine. The yard features a natural stone firepit and a grassy lawn large enough for kids and pets to play, or for a mean game of badminton or croquet! Natural landscaping and gravel paths make the rest of the yard feel like a transplanted corner of Acadia National Park. 

The Van Loan Cottage was even featured in a magazine article: https://savingplaces.org/stories/preserving-a-tiny-cottage-in-maine-helped-one-busy-couple-unwind#.XO_h-NNKj1J

The main cottage features a kitchen, open room with one queen bed and one double bed, a porch with family seating and a loft (accessed by ladder stairs) that serves as a possible play area for kids. There is also a bathroom with tub/shower combo.

The master bedroom suite/building features a king bed, sitting area, gas wood stove and spacious bathroom with tub/shower combo.

Amenities include cable TV, BlueRay, WIFI, washer/dryer, gas BBQ, parking for up to two cars, microwave, coffeemaker, and outdoor picnic table. There is parking for 2+ cars. Click here for more complete list of household items/amenities.

Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park offer visitors a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, boating, lake swimming, carriage road walks, horse back riding, deep sea fishing! Visit the Abbe Museum, sail on the Margaret Todd, take a Jackson Lab visitors tour, enjoy tea and popovers at the Jordan Pond House, golf at a PGA top-rated course, play tennis. Kids activities include water park, miniature golf, beaches, and lots of ice cream shops!

Dog permitted.

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Click here for full gallery of picturesWalk to nearby shore access